Age UK comment on the increase in March deaths

Michelle Mitchell, Age UK's Charity Director General, said:

'It's really worrying that the number of deaths in March this year are significantly higher than the average for the previous five years.

'Cold homes are particularly dangerous to the health of older people and are a major contributing factor to the high numbers of excess winter deaths in this country.

'People living in the coldest homes are three times as likely to die from a cold-related illness compared to those in warmer homes.

'We are trailing behind our European counterparts when it comes to providing decent housing that people can afford to heat, and it is the oldest and most vulnerable who are suffering. 

'The government must invest new carbon taxes in a programme of energy efficiency to bring Britain's housing stock into the 21st century and enable people to benefit from the heat they use.'

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Notes to editors

For media enquiries relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland please contact the appropriate national office: Age Scotland on 0131 668 8055, Age Cymru on 029 2043 1562 and Age NI on 028 9024 5729.

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged, dedicated to improving later life.

We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to well over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle. We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI (together the Age UK Family), our local Age UK partners in England and local Age Concerns. We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).